The Impact of Mobile Devices for Learning in Higher Education Institutions: Nigerian Universities Case Study

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Author(s)

Shaibu A. Shonola 1,* Mike S. Joy 1 Solomon S. Oyelere 2 Jarkko Suhonen 2

1. Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL Coventry, United Kingdom

2. School of Computing, University of Eastern Finland, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland

* Corresponding author.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5815/ijmecs.2016.08.06

Received: 13 May 2016 / Revised: 8 Jun. 2016 / Accepted: 2 Jul. 2016 / Published: 8 Aug. 2016

Index Terms

Mobile device, handheld device, mobile learning, m-learning

Abstract

Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets are becoming increasing popular among students, setting out a new way to communicate, collaborate and learn. The use of portable devices has the capability to inspire new approaches to learning. It is therefore important to examine the students’ viewpoints about the educational use of mobile technology in supporting the learning process. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of mobile devices for learning purposes by exploring the kinds of interactions that students in Nigerian universities have with their portable gadgets. A sample of 240 higher education students participated in the study by completing the researchers’ questionnaire. The results of the study indicate the students use their portable devices to exchange education-related messages and academic files with classmates, search the internet and library databases for academic materials, practice online quizzes or tests and hold discussions with classmates among others. The statistical analyses result show that there is no significant difference in the students’ use of mobile devices based on gender.

Cite This Paper

Shaibu A. Shonola, Mike S. Joy, Solomon S. Oyelere, Jarkko Suhonen, "The Impact of Mobile Devices for Learning in Higher Education Institutions: Nigerian Universities Case Study", International Journal of Modern Education and Computer Science(IJMECS), Vol.8, No.8, pp.43-50, 2016. DOI:10.5815/ijmecs.2016.08.06

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